A few days later, many of the younger dwarves were outside the mountain a few miles down from the entrance to where the tree line started, practicing their skill at archery. The sky was overcast and threatened to rain soon. Rhonwen, Fíli, and many other dwarves were on the side lines, watching Kíli draw an arrow from his quiver and notch it to his bow string. Then he paused for a strong breeze blew round the mountain.

"It's going tae rain soon," one of the dwarves said in a thick accent with a quick look at the grey sky above them.

Rhonwen looked amazed and asked, "How do you know that?"

The dwarf shrugged and said, "Balin taught me."

They looked now at Kíli pull back his bow string and pause, aiming at the center of the target. The moment of silence followed as each dwarf held their breath waiting for the arrow to fly. A twang  was heard, followed by a thump as the arrow flew, clean and true and landed in the very center of the target. The silence was broken by cheering and a few of the dwarves congratulated Kíli.

Then as Kíli fired another arrow, a loud crack of thunder was heard and all looked up at the now darkening sky. Someone ran up, snatched up the target, ripped the arrow right out, and took off running towards the mountain. Almost everyone followed. Rhonwen stopped only to help Fíli and Kíli gather their weapons and race to the mountain just as the first great droplets of water began to fall from the threatening sky.

Once inside the mountain, Fíli threw down the weapons he had been carrying and shook his wet hair, sending water droplets flying everywhere causing Kíli to sneeze. Rhonwen started laughing and Kíli joined her. Fíli smiled and then picked up the weapons and made his way down the hall to the practicing grounds. Kíli soon followed and Rhonwen started going to her room.

Rhonwen ran into someone familiar, knocking her down. "Where have you been?!"

Coriann stood up, brushed herself off, and answered, "Like I said, I went to see if any tradesmen needed a guide. If you want to hear about that then come with me, I need to report to Uncle Thorin."

Rhonwen followed Coriann to the Council Chamber, saying, "That's not the whole story, Coriann! You're walking absolutely fine. No pain, no limp, nothing!"

"Rhonwen, I'll tell you about that later. First I need to report to Uncle. I learned something very interesting on my journey that I think he may want to know."

Once they were outside the chamber doors, Coriann flung the doors open and everyone in the room turned around. Thorin stood up, seeing his niece in the doorway and motioned her forward. Coriann went to him and knelt. He placed his hands on her shoulders and lifted her up. "My dear niece, I have not apologized to you for sending you with the women and children during the battle against the trolls in the way I did. It was a wound to your pride."

"Nay Uncle, you are wrong. Your wish was to protect me and you were right. I would not have been able to fight without endangering myself or those around me. Instead you sent me to the place where I was given a task I could do. Do not apologize for doing the right thing." Then to the amazement of everyone, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. He embraced her in return and let go. Then Coriann turned around to face the assembly. "Dwarves of the Blue Mountains! I have just returned from one of my usual journeys as a guide for tradesmen. When I arrived in the Plains, I received word that a group of men from the banks of Esgaroth were preparing to leave for Gondor. And so I went to offer my services. While there, I learned of something that will interest all of you."

She stopped there and all the eyes in the hall stared at her until Dwalin said, "Well lass, are you going to tell us?"

"Aye. A dwarf from the Iron Hills entered Erebor and came out alive."

Silence permeated the room and then shouts and exclamations filled the room. Everyone was talking at once and Thorin roared, "SILENCE!"

Everyone grew quiet and Thorin nodded for Coriann to continue. She nodded her thanks and then went on. "What he told Lord Dain was that there was no sign of the dragon. The only thing he couldn't be sure of was whether or not Smaug is dead for there was no smell of decaying flesh. But I have brought this news back to you all, especially my uncle, for I believe that it is important and rather interesting." She bowed to the assembly and walked back to the doors and left the room, Rhonwen hot on her heels.

Coriann headed to her room, a spring in her step and her usual confident stride back. Dwarves in the halls stopped to stare in amazement. Upon arriving at her room, she opened the door and went in saying, "Come on in and we can talk without interruption."

Rhonwen followed her in and sat down on the bed while Coriann worked on unpacking her travel pack. "What happened to your side?" Rhonwen ventured at last.

"I went to the elves of Imladris and got it healed completely," Coriann answered.

"And that's where you went first?"

"Aye. I wouldn't have been able to lead the group I led if I hadn't."

They were silent for some time and then Rhonwen asked, "Will you tell everyone here?"

"In a way. I'll tell Momma and then she'll let the truth leak out by giving a few well chosen words to a couple of the old biddies here. Now, tell me what happened while I was gone."

An odd look came onto Rhonwen's face and she looked down and was silent. "Well?" Coriann asked.

Rhonwen looked up at Coriann. "I told Fíli that I didn't love him like he loved me."

Coriann let her breath out. "And how did that go?"

Rhonwen looked at the ground and was silent for a few minutes. "Not very well. He's still getting over it," she added. "Maybe you should talk to him or Kíli for more details."

"I would rather hear the details from you, Rhonwen. There's more than just that that happened."

Rhonwen sighed and clasped and unclasped her hands. "I really think it'd be better if you heard it from Fíli and Kíli. Or Dís, but not me."

Coriann shut her eyes and took a breath. With a sigh, Coriann opened her eyes and pulled out her extra cloak from the pack. Shaking it out, she hung it on a hook on the back of her door.

"Alright Rhonwen. If you don't wish to tell me, that's fine. Do you know where my brothers are?"

"They're with your uncle, practicing near the armory."

"Thank you. Oh. I brought back something for you from the Long Lake." Here Coriann removed a package wrapped in oil cloth and handed it to Rhonwen with a small smile. "I saw this in the marketplace and thought of you," Coriann said. With that she left her room and headed for the practice area.

Rhonwen carefully pulled away the oil cloth that covered the package, and gaped at what lay inside. A beautifully embroidered leather quiver filled with the finest and sharpest arrows. Their deadly points looked capable of drawing blood from the wind and Rhonwen quickly ran and carefully put away the precious gift, hurrying to find Coriann to thank her.

She hurried down the hall, bypassing many of the dwarves who stared at her. Finally, she found out where Coriann was and went to Kíli's room, throwing open the door. Sure enough, there Coriann and Kíli sat talking. They looked up at her and Rhonwen blurted out, "Thank you, Coriann, for the arrows."

Kíli stared at Rhonwen puzzled, but Coriann smiled and said, "You're welcome."

Rhonwen nodded and then ran back to her room. There was some things she needed to finish before supper time came.

During supper, however, Rhonwen glanced up and stared at Coriann for a few minutes. Rhonwen had a vague feeling that Coriann was up to something. Coriann met her gaze and then looked down the table at her twin brother, Fíli, who was sitting between Bofur and Bombur near the end of the table. He was smiling at something which Bofur had said, something that Rhonwen hadn't see him do in awhile. But then Fíli caught her glance and his face sombered, the sadness returning. Rhonwen quickly turned away.

Afterwards, Rhonwen went up the hall to her room, instead of going to the Singing Hall. She had a bit of a headache and she thought that lying down would help. She surely didn't want to get sick from being in the cold rain earlier. She undid the braids in her hair, collapsed on the bed, and closed her eyes.

Later, the door opened and Dís slipped in quietly. Rhonwen lay fast asleep, hands thrown behind her head. Dís smiled softly to herself and carefully, without waking the sleeping girl, pulled up the covers over Rhonwen. Then she froze, for Rhonwen stirred and suddenly turned over in her sleep. Dís relaxed and went out of the room, closing the door very softly.

The next morning, Rhonwen rolled over and blinked. She looked at the sun which poured in through the window on one side of her bed. She tried to remember why she was still in the clothes which she wore yesterday. Then suddenly it came back to her. She yawned and lay still. Her headache had only increased and her throat was sore, let alone the fact that she couldn't breathe through her nose. She took in a deep breath and started coughing.

She sat up and went to the door, looking up and down the hall. Dís was walking down it and she stopped when she saw Rhonwen. Dís looked worried and walked to Rhonwen quickly, laying a cool hand on her forehead. "Are you alright?" she asked.

Rhonwen shook her head. "I think I'm sick," she replied hoarsely.

"You have a fever," Dís diagnosed. "You need to stay in bed. I will make sure you have water, but on no reason, unless its necessary, do I want to see you leaving your room. Understand?"

Rhonwen nodded and went back into her room, getting into bed and falling asleep.

Towards the middle of the day, she woke up. Sure enough, there was a cup of water on a small table next to her bed. Rhonwen sat up and drank it all down. Her forehead was hot and she didn't feel at all well. She settled down again and tried to think about how she had gotten sick. Not finding an explanation, she leaned back and closed her eyes, trying to ignore the pounding pain in her head.

Several hours later, she heard her door squeak open and then close. She opened her eyes and sat up. "Kíli," she said in a voice barely more than a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

He walked and sat down on the side of the bed. "Mum told me you were sick. Besides, there was nothing else to do."

"What do you mean?" her questioned was ended by a cough. "Isn't there something to do?"

He shook his head. "Nay. Besides, Coriann might say that I was worried about you and couldn't concentrate on anything," he finished with a smile. Rhonwen smiled back. "So, are you feeling better now?"

Rhonwen shook her head. "Nay, worse. Kíli, are you basically stating that you has nothing to do and are avoiding your sister?"

Kíli laughed. "I suppose, if you put it that way."

Rhonwen smiled weakly and closed her eyes, leaning against her pillow. "Would you like me to leave?" Kíli asked softly.

Rhonwen opened her eyes and looked at him for a long time. "No, I'd rather have you stay. You may leave if you wish, but I would appreciate your being here," she said, smiling slightly.

Eventually, Rhonwen fell asleep, a smile on her lips. However, it too faded and sometimes her forehead would crease as if her thoughts were in turmoil. Kíli watched her for a few hours, the silence only interrupted by her breathing.

He was startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see his mother standing there. "Let me take care of her now. She'll be alright."

Kíli looked at Rhonwen for a few moments and then nodded. "Alright. I'll go." He stood up and paused. Then he bent over the sleeping form and kissed Rhonwen's hot forehead before exiting the room.

The next morning, Kíli hurried to Rhonwen's room and knocked on the door. There was no answer so he stepped in. His mother was sitting in a chair, asleep. As was Rhonwen, only she occasionally tossed from side to side. Then Dís started and blinked, staring at her son, puzzled. "The fever's worse, but I've seen worse cases. No need to worry." She got up and placed a cool cloth on Rhonwen's forehead. Kíli watched before leaving the room.

That night, while everyone else was asleep, Dís kept careful watch over Rhonwen. Eventually, the fever broke and Dís departed to get some much needed sleep. The following few days, Rhonwen woke, ate, and slept at intervals, gaining her strength back.

Then when Dís finally consented to her getting up, Rhonwen woke up one sunny morning and yawned. She got out of bed and made it. Then she put on a clean tunic and belted it,before braiding her unruly hair. She straightened the tunic one last time before running down the hall to the Feasting Hall, bypassing many other dwarves headed in the same direction on her way.

When she reached the Hall, she took her usual seat next to Dís, but strangely the two places next to her were both empty. Rhonwen quickly searched round the room for the two familiar faces but couldn't find them. Also Coriann was nowhere to be seen. She gently nudged Dís with her elbow and asked, "Where are Fíli, Kíli, and Coriann?"

Dís paused and then said softly, "Coriann took the boys on a trip. They'll be back in a month." Then Dís left to help the dwarves who were in the kitchens.

Rhonwen stood stunned. Left?  she thought. Left without saying goodbye?  Rhonwen felt numbed and that feeling stayed with her till after breakfast. Then she ran to her room, and threw herself down on her bed crying.

When she had sobered down a bit, she went to a chest which held many of her belongings and pulled out an oil skin package that she opened. Inside lay a beautifully embroidered tunic of which she had finished the day she became sick. She picked it up and gazed at it. The interwining threads of gold and silver crissed-crossed into various patterns and knots that graced the collar and sleeves of the garment. Rhonwen had been making it for Kíli and had planned to give it to him today. She laid it down with a sigh and wrapped it up again, locking the chest once more. "I suppose it, like me, will have to wait," she said softly.

If you want to know where the three went, read "Daughter of Middle Earth," by   Taleweaverinfinity  .